No. 8 Mesa corrals No. 3 Golden West

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: September 22, 2024

2024 COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOOTBALL

By Nick Pellegrino
ECS Senior writer

HUNTINGTON BEACH – San Diego Mesa College quarterback Jax Leatherwood fired a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes, then the Olympians’ defense out-scored the Golden West offense in the second half in a 22-7 conquest of the Rustlers.

Mesa (3-0) is ranked No. 8 in California while handing No. 3 Golden West (3-2) its first setback of the season.

Leatherwood found Kendall Ayersman on a 12-yard pass after the defense held Golden West at midfield.

On the ensuing possession, Leatherwood then found Jalil Tucker from 28 yards to cap a 4-play, 78-yard drive with 48 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Golden West cut the margin in half on a mammoth 12-play, 80-yard drive, but the Rustlers aur game was practically eliminated afterward.

The second half saw Mesa sandwich a pair of field goals around a safety, as Mesa slowly stretched the margin.

For the contest, GWC collected a mere 243 yards in total offense. Included were a pair of Mesa interceptions by John Shepard and Jacob Benavente, with Shepard’s theft resulting in a 54-yard runback.

Robert Petric booted field goalsof 20 and 34 yrds in the second half.

The safety resulted in a major GWC goof after attempting to return a punt from the 1-yard line. On the next play, Rustlers quarterback Will Burns was sacked in the end zone by hristian Mota, with an assist from Jonah Leung-Wai.

The leading tackles was Jayden Cortell with 9 stops, including two for losees and a shared sack, allowing Mesa to snap a 3-game series losing streak to the Rustlers. BOXSCORE

Citrus 48, Grossmont College 13

GLENDORA – Bouyed by a school-record 98-yard touchdown run by freshman Jamahl Wilson , the Citrus Owls mounted a 38-0 cushion and took a 34-7 lead into the intermission, claiming an easy non-conference triumph over the visiting Grossmont Griffins.

Wilson’sl ong run came in the second quarter, but the Owls’ run-fest started earlier when Hakim Haliburton carried the ball from 20 yards out, capping a 12-play, 88-yard scoring march.

Citrus averaged more than 10 ards per run, gaining 355 yards on 35 attempts; Grossmont never forged turnover.

The Griffins erased the shutout bid on a 4-yard run by Jadon Green in the second quarter. The other score saw Matt Barton with a 7-yard cosmetic rush in the closing minutes.

Citrus (2-1 overall) won the total offense count, 519 to 280. Wilson had three touchdownws.

The Griffins, which fell to 1-2, host San Diego Mesa next Saturday (game time TBA) at Mashin-Roth Memorial Field. BOXSCORE

College of the Canyons 26, Palomar 7

SAN MARCOS – The College of the Canyons Cougars carried a 12-0 lead into the midway point of the third qyarter, leading wire-to-wire to drop the host Palomar Comets, 26-7.

Cougars kicker Luis Rodriguez booted four straight field goals, including a 53-yard for the early lead. He connected from 25, 37, 52, and 33

The 52-yarder, which came early in the second period to make it 9-0, was a personal best for Rodriguez, plus set a stadium record previosuly held by Palomar’s Jonathon “Jack” Meyers.

The Comets moved within striking distance on a 7-ard TD run by Chris Bausch. Hoeever, Canyons (2-1 overall) answered with a pair of scores to pull away, as Palomar (1-2) failed to force a turnover.

The Comets leading tacklers were Jaiden Letua and Moshi Tileia, both with 10.

Next week, Palomar plays at Riverside City College, coachch by former Comets mentor To Craft. The Tigers (2-1) won at El Camino, 70-45. BOXSCORE